Circuit maker and breaker



Jan. 14, 1930. H, A DOUGLAS LMQ CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER origina Filed Feb'. 9, 1927 Patented Jan. 14, 193@ tiene PATN FFICE HARRY A. DOUG-LAS, OF BRGISN, MC-IIGAN CIRCUIT MAKER- AND BREAKER Original application filed February 9, 1927, Serial No. 166,930. Divided and this application led January My invention relates to vehicles employing steering shafts and steering wheels upon the shafts, this case being a division of my application Seria-l Number 166,930, filed February 9, 192.". rEhe invention has for its object the provision of improved controlling mechanism operable at such a steering wheel and in actuating relation to light controlling or other electric switching mechanism which is remote from the steering Wheel.

1n carrying out my invention, 1 employ a lever mounted to turn at the steering wheel and in controlling relation to a switch operating rod that extends to the switching mechai nism. Cam mechanism is preferably provided tor moving the switch operating rod axially in one direction and a spring for reversing the movement or" the rod, the spring maintaining the rod and cam mechanism in se cooperative relation. The rod is desirably disposed within the steering column and in the annular space between the steering shaft and column.

The invention will be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention; F 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating one 2c use to which the invention may be put; Fig. 3 a sectional view on line 3 8 oit' F ig. 1; Fig. lis a perspective view of cooperative parts of the structure; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 oi F ig. 3.

r1`he circuit illustrated in Fig. 2 is inclusive of two head lamps 1 each having one terminal grounded and its other terminal connected by a low resistance path with a switch contact 2 and by another path with e a switch Contact 3, the latter path including a dimming resistance 1. A switch bar 5, preferably formed as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, is mounted to turn and serves, in one position, to connect the contacts 2 and 3, and, in an alternative position, to disconnect these contracts. W hen the contacts 2 and 3 are connected, the dimming resistance d' is shunted, current then being supplied from the grounded battery 6 through the master switch 7 to 5U the head lamps by way of the switch eleserial No. 246,324.

ments 2, 3 and 5 and as the resistance in the path then flowing from the battery is low, the head lamps will furnish bright illumination. lihen the contacts 2 and 3 are disconnected, current from the batt-ery 6 inds access to the lamps through the dimming resistance 4- causing the lamps to furnish dim light. It is one object of my invention to provide improved mechanism, associated with the steering column, for placing the switch bar 5 in alternative adjustments.

The switching mechanism of which the bar 5 and the contacts 2and 3 form parts housed within a switch casing 8 which is secured upon the stationary steering column 9 remotely from the steering wheel by means of a racket 10 which supports the switch casing and the mechanism therein upon the exterior and at one side of the column. The steering column is shown as being assembled with an instrument board 9 by a bracket 92. The switch casing has a closure disc 11 ot insulating material which carries the metallic spring barrels 12 in which the contacts 2 and 3 are adapted to slide, these contacts being pressed into engagement with the contactingl bar 5 or with the insulating' disc 13 that ca ries this bar, according to the position to which the disc 13 is turned. The spring barrels are provided with reduced ends that eX- tend through the closure disc 11, binding screws 14 serving to secure the wires that pertain to the contacts 2 and 3 in electrical connection with said spring barrels, current flowing through the spring barrels to said contacts when the bar 5 is in circuit closing position. A stub shaft 15 is journaled within the wall of the casing that is opposite the disc 11, this stub shaft carrying prongs 1G that are received within the disc 13 and serve to turn the disc into circuit opening or circuit closing position according to the position to which said stub shaft is turned. This stub shait is formed with a lateral extension 17 received between the sides of one of the forked ends of a rocking lever 18 which is pivoted between its ends upon the switch casing.

The switching mechanism that is thus remote from the steering wheel is positively operated by the lever 19 in each direction to a circuit opening position or a circuit closing position or, in other words, with reference to Fig. 2, to a position in which the shunt about the dimming resistance l is either opened or closed. The controlling rod 2O is located between the steering shaft 21 and the steering column in whose interior this rod 20 is also located. The forked end of the lever 18 which is adjacent the steering column receives the head 22 of a' bolt 23 which extends through a slot Q4 in the steering column, this boltliavin'g a flange 25 sliding upon the outer side of the steering column and being connected with a bloclr 26 which slides between the steering column and the steering shaft. The rod 2O is fixed to the block 26' and extends upwardly through the bearing 27 disposed within the upper end of the steering column and in which the shaft 21 is journaled. A spring 28 is coupled, at 'one end, with an extension 219 of the stub shaft 15 and is anchored at its other end to the switch casing. rlhis spring serves, when free to function, to turn' the contacting bar 5 to one of the alternative positions of this bar while the rod 20 functions through the block 26 and the rocling lever 18 to reverse the movement of said contacting bar. The upper end of the rod 2O is engageable with a cam formation 30 which is provided upon Vthe hub 31Vof the control lever 19, this lever hub being j ourn'aled upon the upper end of the steering column. The lever 19 andthe parts Vcoupled therewith are confined to a fixed planel of rotation transverse to the shaft Q1 by reason of the interposition of a portion of the lever hub between the upper end of the steering column and the lower end of the hub of the Ysteering wheel 32. rlhe hub of the lever 19 is desirably split, as indicated at 3.3 .tov enable it to be held in suitably snug turning engagement with the steering column by means of a tightening screw 34. From the foregoing explanation it will be understood that when the lever 19 is turned in one direction upon and with respect to the steering column, the rod 20 will be depressed against the force of the spring 28 to place the contacting bar 5 in one position and that when said lever is reversed, the spring 28 will be free to place the bar 5 in its alternative position, the came 30 assuming a position in which the spring-is free to move therod 20 upwardly.

Changes may be Ymade without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: Y

l. The combination with a hollow steering column; of a manually operable steering shaft mounted to turn within said column and carrying a steering wheel upon one end, there beh a space between and extending 'along the steering column and steering shaft; a rod within said space and movable along the shaft and column, this rod terminating, at one end, in the region of the wheel; a cam member mounted to turn in a plane transverse to the shaft and provided with an operating handle that is accessible in the region of the wheel and having engagement with the aforesaid rod end and operating thereupon to cause the movement of the rod longitudinally.ofthe shaft and column; and a switching device upon the exterior of the column and having operating connection with said rod through an opening that is formed in the column. j

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the cam effects the movement of the rod in one direction vto secure one adjustment of the switch and a sp 1ing operates upon the switch to secure an alternative adjustment thereof when the cam is adjusted to permit of the reverse movement'of the rod which is also effected by said spring that is coupled with the rod through the switching mechanism.

ln witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

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